Sear

Soft, sweet, and buttery, scallops are like candy from the sea, and they pair beautifully with a bright and luscious piccata sauce.

Tom yum is traditionally found in soup form, but this inspired version turns it into a tangy sauce served with lightly seared scallops.

Here we give you chargrilled flavor, minus the grill; deeply browning the broccoli in a cast-iron skillet instead. 

If any risotto could be a summer dish, it’s this one, topped with perfectly caramelized scallops and flavored with fresh basil and pineapple juice.

These shortcut Egyptian-style falafels are made with frozen edamame and peas instead of the traditional fava beans. Sear them to make the most crunchy surface and pair them with buttery brioche burger buns.

Meet your new go-to flavor booster: butter that’s fully equipped with blue cheese and garlic. Layer on charred winter squash (any variety will work), then top it off with nuts and fresh herbs.

Who needs beef? When you combine chicken with shredded veggies and a tangy Greek yogurt sauce, you get a burger as thick and juicy as any other.

The transformative power of our new favorite seedy, spicy, crunchy, garlicky oil is on full display in this dinner of simply seared scallops. A couple of drizzles adds a spice drawer’s worth of flavor in seconds.

Using both syrupy date molasses and pitted, sliced dates gives this dish rounded sweetness. It gets a dash of sourness from apple cider vinegar and some heat from cayenne.

A hazelnut vinaigrette pulls this satisfying salad of seasonal root vegetables, massaged, charred kale, and creamy cheese together.

Crosshatching and salting zucchini before cooking removes excess moisture, allowing them to sear instead of steam.

This Argentinian staple is typically topped with mayonnaise, mustard, and chimichurri. We swapped out the chimichurri for a fresh salsa criolla, which takes just minutes to make.

Pile seared Halloumi cheese and a yogurt-dressed cabbage-and-chickpea salad over a swath of hummus for these satisfying vegetarian sandwiches.

It’s too soon for grilling season, but it’s never too soon to smash a burger on a griddle (or cast-iron pan) in the comfort of your kitchen. Freezing before cooking allows the patty to develop a satisfying crust while retaining a pink and juicy center.

Love cheesy broccoli casserole? Then go for this steak dinner, which mimics those flavors in a simple but elegant way with charred broccolini and a creamy Gruyère sauce.

Sear squeaky, salty Halloumi cheese in a pan—it won’t melt, but will get a crisp golden crust—then douse in honey and a spicy nut and seed sprinkle and serve as an appetizer or with a simple green salad.

Topped off with a simple raw corn salsa, these patties are a crowd-pleasing and low-maintenance summer dinner.

Top shallow bowls of hummus with crispy spiced beef and fresh tomato salad for an easy, protein-filled dinner.

Cashews blend into a creamy (and gorgeously green-hued) sauce for these summery pork chop–topped cold noodles.

Round out a breakfast of spiced lamb sausage patties with a handful of leafy greens and creamy avocado.

Tossed with crunchy cucumbers, peanuts, and fresh red chiles, this salad makes a refreshing summer dinner spooned over rice or all on its own.

The secret to the deep orange flavor in this simple weeknight dinner is to sear halved oranges next to the steak as it cooks, and then squeeze the caramelized juice all over your plate before digging in.

Growing up, my mother would make pot roast for a Sunday meal, or for when we had company; it’s a lovely reminder of home.

Looking for a special dinner for two? First, pan-sear one big steak to share. Then, while the steak rests, use the fat rendered behind in the skillet to sear smashed paprika-spiced potatoes to crispy, golden perfection.